run for the 'rocks

i've put another line in the sand. running was sporadic in the fall and winter - some weeks i was on, some off. i got back into yoga for a spell, then fell off that wagon as well. so i felt it was time to put a marker down, set a goal. so i did - the shamrock run in march. and, just because i hate myself that much, i'm registering for the 15K.

today was my first long (for me) run in a while. 5.5 miles. rather than my normal irvington loops, i headed down to the water. i ran to the steel bridge where i caught the east side esplanade. i ran down the esplanade to the hawthorne bridge, across that, back up waterfront park to the steel bridge in a big loop. the river was thick and muddy - giant trees bobbing in it, perhaps casualties of the wind last night. i crossed the river at the steel bridge, climbed the stairs and started the run home. i walked a bit from MLK to 12th, as my road home was an uphill slog all the way. i ran from 12th around the back of lloyd cinemas under that weird bit of road and back up to 17th and then to weidler - from there i walked the rest of the way. i was beat. but i didn't get a stitch, the weather was great (minimal wind) and i felt pretty strong.

i'm looking forward to training - working toward something again. i think i'm going to have to break my rule and try running on a treadmill at work - the weather is looking potentially shitty (but i'm still doing a snowsnowsnow happy dance for next week). i have snow shoeing and xc skiing in my immediate future - friends already beckoning me to the mountain. and yoga will be mixed in somewhere.

this winter is about me.